During a wildfire emergency, you may need to leave at a moment’s notice. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) FireSmart team is encouraging residents to prepare a ‘grab-and-go bag’ or emergency kit to ensure you have necessary items for a quick evacuation, if needed.

If your property is currently on evacuation alert or order and you need urgent information about what to do, visit the RDOS’ emergency webpage at emergency.rdos.bc.ca/beprepared. Other tips and resources are also available on this page, like how to make an emergency plan and wildfire prevention planning.

“In the case of wildfire emergencies, things can move fast. It’s important for all citizens living within the wildfire urban interface to know what they will need to do if they receive an order to evacuate,” says RDOS FireSmart Coordinator Kerry Riess. “Now is a good time to consider all the needs of every member in your care, including pets and farm animals, so you can ensure your emergency kit includes all the items sufficient for at least 72 hours.”

The kit should include the following:

• Enough water for three days
• Food that won’t spoil such as canned goods, dried foods
• Manual can opener
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Battery-powered radio
• Candles / matches
• First Aid kit
• Medications
• Whistle (to attract attention, if required)
• Extra keys for your house and vehicle (fully fuelled)
• Change of clothing
• Blankets
• Toilet paper
• Cash in small bills, credit cards
• List of key contacts
• Face masks
• Personal hygiene items
• Paper, pencil or pen
• Copies of important documents (birth certificates, insurance, passports)
• Charger for cellphones, laptop and other devices
• Pet food and bowls (if required)
• Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses / contact lens solution (if required)
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes (if required)

 Items to take if time allows:

• Easily carried valuables
• Family photos and other irreplaceable items
• Personal computer information on hard drives and disks 

Always keep a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed in case of a sudden evacuation at night.

For more tips and information, visit the RDOS’ Emergency page at emergency.rdos.bc.ca. For tips about how to prepare your home and property, visit the RDOS FireSmart page at firesmart.rdos.bc.ca.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contacts:

Sean Vaisler
RDOS Manager of Emergency Services
250-490-4218